Is the UK parliament too large?

Abstract

Valentino Larcinese looks at the size of the UK parliament.
Is the parliament too large? Both the Conservative and Libdem manifestoes propose a reduction in the number of MPs. The Libdem, in particular, provide an exact figure: “reduce the number of MPs by 150”. David Cameron has also been quite explicit on this on several occasions: “we’ve got far too many MPs in Westminster. More people sit in the House of Commons than in any other comparable elected chamber in the world.”